9 Chapter 8: His Name is Simoun

You'll realize that you're into someone when you share a lot with that person and you're comfortable when you are with him/her.

#8: His Name is Simoun

"Stupid me! Hey! I didn't know that your name is Simoun!" I complain to Simoun or Mr. Librarian. Thanks to Lorena for letting me know his name.

"It doesn't matter," he said lifelessly. We are here now on the road and walking. They might hear what we're talking about, it's very confidential that's why we left the mansion.

There are many Filipino vendors on the street. The rest of them work under the Spaniards. The children, instead of playing or studying, they work! Tsk tsk! If they live in year 2021, surely their employer will face a case. Child abuse.

"Why did you show up?" I asked but I am mesmerized by the view. I was amazed at the beauty of the environment, even though there are children that are working.

Because there is no clutter and no wastes around. There are no beggars that if you don't give them money, they will raised their middle finger at you.

There are no snatchers, carnappers, kidnappers and whatever criminals that are scattered on the streets. The houses are still nice even if they are not concrete.

"Why does it seems like you don't to want to see me anymore?" Simoun raised an eyebrow at me.

We are still walking and I didn't know where our destination was. I cringed at him and that's when I realized what I had said.

"Crazy! It's not like that. I was just shocked to see you. So why did you show up? Is there a problem? Did I break a rule?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly. Faster than the flash. "In fact you achieved something."

I smiled when I heard that. My eyes widened because of the sheer excitement!

"Wow really? About what and when?"

He smiled for a moment. Oh my he's handsome! My heart flattered! Even if it was only for a moment, I saw it! I am also a handsome-boy-hunter.

"You saved the brothers, Basilio and Crispin. You even helped them. I just hope this continues especially since Crispin will face a very serious problem."

Oh! I already know that. The accusation that he is a thief! Tsk tsk!

"Yeah don't worry. I will take care of those kids. I won't let them down," I said smiling and jumping up and down. It's just that I'm jolly that's why I'm jumping.

"You should also remember that Crispin and Basilio aren't the only characters here. You need to change the whole story. Most importantly, Ibarra, save him."

I nodded at him and faced him. He is just staring at the road.

"Yes, I know that! Also, he's not in danger yet so I won't save him first. Isn't suspicious if I will save him even though he's not in danger yet? Maybe they'll think that I'm one with those who want him dead."

Simoun or Mr. Librarian stopped walking just to glare at me and it looks like I piss him off. Wow, this librarian is showing his true colors! He's not that patient at all tss.

"Just a reminder, be careful with the stories you're changing. Because you may think it's all right, but the problems are accumulated in the end so be careful."

I nodded my head. I don't think too much about what he says because I already know that, he just repeated what he had said before.

I smiled widely because there is a beach here. I immediately ran there and Simoun also ran. He has no choice hahaha.

"Isn't it astonishing? Take a picture of me! Come on!" I said smiling and took off my clog. That's Maria Clara's slipper. Bakya or clog is a wooden slipper.

I went down to the sea and made a peace sign for the photo shooting and smile widely like there's no tomorrow but Simoun is still standing in the distance and crossing his arms.

Gradually, my smile faded from my lips and started to get annoyed. I feel like I already know this! He doesn't have a cellphone!

"Hey! Why don't you have a cellphone!" I shouted angrily and slowly approached him. Some fishermen and those who are swimming in the sea looked on because I shouted. Yep, I'm a scandalous woman. I got too much attention. Hehe.

"Is that necessary?" He said and he tried to sound confuse but it sound sarcatic and annoying. I rolled my eyes.

"How many years have you lived? Why don't you have a cellphone? Aren't you updated that these days, we need to have--"

"Yeah I know but still I don't care," he said lifelessly.

Tss. It's too bad! Maybe he's a drug user! I looked at him as if I am embarrass because of him. Annoying!

Bad timing, I don't have a camera. The view is really amazing because of the crystal clear sea, fictional indeed. In real life, the seas are full of wastes because of some punks who throw it in the sea. The sky's color is light blue and it's full of clouds! I really enjoy the view.

Unfortunately, I could do nothing but look at the view. No one dared to speak in between us anymore. We're not also close so we have no topic.

Sadly this sea is not true. The water is surrealistic, impossible to be true. If it's true, I'm going to take a photo-shoot here for my projects!

"The sea is amazing, right?" I break our silence. I'm all smiles because I'm really amazed at the view. "I didn't know there was something like this in Noli Me Tangere. What's the name of the sea?"

"Nothing."

Look at this one! I am talking here seriously but he's answering rudely! I gave him a tiger look because of how nice he answered. Amazing! He could be the next miss universe!

"I'm asking you seriously!" I'm running out of patience with this man.

"I answered you seriously too." He looked at me seriously. "It wasn't named because it's not what's important in the story. Do you think Rizal would bother to name the sea he made in the story?"

There, he has a point again. But maybe there's still a name. A fisherman passed by, so I quickly called him.

"Mister!" He looked at me and smiled. Maybe he recognized me because I'm famous. I think he's in his late forties. The curves on his forehead and his gray hair is the evidence that he's old enough.

"Miss Maria Clara, why?" He asked with a smile. Oh! I am Maria Clara. I thought he already knew me as Manuela Carie. So stupid, Manuela!

"What is the name of this sea?" I asked with a smile. Mister's smile is contagious so I smiled too. Simoun the librarian, on the other hand, frowned. What's his problem?

"Miss, this sea doesn't really have a name. No one knows so we just called it 'Sea' or the 'San Diego's Sea' ," he explained with a smile.

After all, that's exactly the name of the seas. Whatever the name of the place, so does the name of the sea. No originality.

"Then let's just call it The Simoun Sea," I said laughing.

I just want to make fun with the librarian who is with me. The annoyance on his face grew even more. His face turned red and her forehead furrowed even more.

"The Simoun Sea. Nice name, Young Lady," Mister replied.

"Nice name because it's unique" I said confidently. Mister and I laughed. Simoun just shrugged off.

I didn't notice but it turns out that Mr. Librarian also has a hidden charm. Mr. Librarian or Simoun. Suddenly, I became curious about his personality.

Is he a human? Immortal? Angel? Book fairy? Fictional character--- oh no! He cannot be a fictional character. Very impossible. Because if he's a fictional character, it's unfair that he's aware of the situation. I don't also read that there's a Simoun in Noli Me Tangere.

Or if there's a Simoun, for sure it's not him. Maybe Simoun is just his screen name.

-

We are walking on the way to the mansion. I'm still with Mr. Librarian and I am jumping while we're walking. Too happy, Manuela?

It's just that beaches are really relaxing, right? And bitches are really stressful, so get out of my way, bitches. Kidding! I'm the one who's the queen bee!

"Hey Mr. Librarian! You should visit me often so that I'll have a guidance. Okay?" I raised my brow at him. He just rolled his eyes.

"Just don't make any chaos. Arrange Noli Me Tangere peacefully and don't make any more chaos!" Irritated, he said.

I just repeat what he said, trying to mock him and I didn't failed. Mr. Librarian looks pissed off. Hehe. He's so cute and funny at the same time.

"Oh, before we part our ways," he said and paused. He took something from the pocket of his coat.

Wow! He took out a golden neclace and heart shaped! This is when you open it, there's a picture that will appear! Wow so wonderful! I dreamed of having this before!

"Wow! It's A-okaaay!" I was really excited to hold it. I even grabbed the necklace from him as if I was a snatcher. "Is this original?"

Disgusted of what I said, he looked at me like I said something wrong.

"Of course! That's more expensive than your life." Ha! Stupid son of b*tch! I just stared at him.

"Lemme have this! I'll take this home, okay?" Smiling I said.

"Obviously, I would have given that to you but you grabbed it," he said shaking his head. "Keep it. Tell them that it is what you bought from me."

I nodded my head and I tried to open the heart shaped necklace but he immediately grabbed my hand.

"Don't open it!" He scolded me. "I just gave it to you but that doesn't mean it's really yours."

"Why? Who owns this?" Annoyed I said and put the necklace on his eyes.

"It's Maria Clara's necklace. Again, strictly don't open it. If you open it you'll die."

"You think I'll buy it? Ha! I'm no longer a kid. I know it's just a lie. I'll open this."

"Do you think it's a lie? Do you think I'm a liar? Are we close to the point I would joke to you?" He kept asking questions so I calmed down. "There's a right time for you to open it. So don't try to open it anymore."

"I don't care about you! I'll still open it--"

"It's up to you. I'm not the one who'll die anyway."

Because of what he said, I stopped talking about opening this necklace. He seems serious and he's right. We're not close so he won't pull up a prank on me.

"That necklace will also be yours when you succeed in this mission. It's like a reward and you know how much is this?"

"Obviously not," I savagely answer.

"1 Billion US dollars," he said seriously when he said that. I slowly laughed as if he told a joke. I even slapped his chest.

"Okay, next joke! Maybe it's just twenty pesos! You gotta be kidding me!" I rolled my eyes. "You can't be serious."

"As I have said earlier, we're not close so I won't joke to you." That's enough reason.

Guess what time it is! Well, I also don't know but the sky is now orange, showing that it's already afternoon and within a minute, it'll be evening already.

"But maybe, I can wear it?" I said as put the necklace on my neck.

"Yes sure. Let me," he said and went behind me to put on the necklace. His touch sent shivers down my spine! Wow, flirty Manuela!

As he adjusted the necklace around my neck, it was as if electricity was flowing from his hand to my neck. Manuela, a real flirty!

"Bravo, look who's here!" Father Sibyla said while smiling sarcastically. What is he doing on my way? He has no right to show his face in front of me!

"Hello!" I simply greeted him like we're friends and we don't hate each other.

He looked at me as if he's disgusted with my whole personality. I rolled my eyes at him. Tss! Look at this man! I am trying to be nice here.

"You are well known here not only as the most beautiful young lady, but also as the most disrespectful person. Congratulations!" He said with a smile but it was obvious that he was teasing.

Gosh! Look at this man. Did he thought that I'll let this pass? Ha! I am Manuela Carie and no one, NO ONE can beat me when it comes to being mean.

"Thanks. I'm flattered!" Smiling, I said too. I am smiling as if I am ready to kill someone. What do you call this? Ah! Killer smile!

It seems like I ruined his mood because the smile on his face had gone and he seems mad Hahaha! You opposed the wrong person, Father Sibyla.

"You see, you're really proving to me you're a disrespectful lady," he said stunned.

He was really scandalous because he deliberately raised his voice. So yuck! He's so stupid!

"I don't think so. In fact, I respect people who deserved to be respected like uhm let's say Padre Salvi," I said. It is another priest but he's also not that kind but at least he's better than Sibyla. You, are you respectable?" I glared at him.

The people began to murmur again. Oh! I really love this scene! Maybe what comes out here is that Maria Clara is the wick woman because she has no respect for the priests in the church.

Why I am always having a trash talk here with Padre Sibyla. I'm tired of this worthless priest. What I want to have trash talk is Padre Damaso.

We only met once here while Padre Sibyla? Almost everyday. Mr. Librarian lightly tap my shoulder that's why I came back from reality.

Another rumor will prove that I really have no respect. Fine, I'm used to it. What's new? I'm just the stupid model who is sophisticated and disrespectful in the real world.

"And who are you, Young Man?" Father Sibyla asked rudely. Is he always like this? I thought Padre Damaso was the rudest, it turns out he is!

"It's none of your business," I answered directly. This priest is testing my patience ha!

What right does he have to know who Mr. Librarian? Nothing! He has no right! The crowd talk more. I'm disgusted!

I'm the bad guy again, he really has no right to know!

"And why are you answering me? Am I asking you ?" Padre Sibyla's answer was defiant.

"Wait a minute, why are you two together? Isn't Don Crisostomo Ibarra your boyfriend? You can't be fickle?"

Oh shit! One more wrong word and I'll punch this priest! He's so malicious! If a woman and a man are going our together, does it means their in love? But ... maybe y-yes?

Especially in today's era! Of course, this is a historical fiction story and it is not good in the eyes of public when a woman and a man are together, especially if they are not lovers!

"Tsk tsk. What will Don Crisostomo say when he finds out that you are cheating on him with another man. You also act strange, Miss Maria Clara. You look proper, but you are actually aggressive."

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